I'm going to wait until I see what this team looks like after free agency and just as importantly, what the rest of the east looks like after free agency. Asking this now seems ridiculously premature to me.

I'm going to wait until I see what this team looks like after free agency and just as importantly, what the rest of the east looks like after free agency. Asking this now seems ridiculously premature to me.

Agreed.

It's fun to speculate, but we really have no idea what this team will look like come September. It seems like every single player could be moved if the price was right.

I'm going to wait until I see what this team looks like after free agency and just as importantly, what the rest of the east looks like after free agency. Asking this now seems ridiculously premature to me.

agree with the wing king but i could definitely see them getting a 7 or 8 seed next year. the team's been scrappy all year and been missing its best player for most of it. seems like every loss is by 2 or 3 points, too. if Bargs is here do we win those games? does BC stop texting Casey to put Butler in at the end of close games?

next year we'll have big Val (oh how our expectations are so lofty already) and a lotto pick player (hopefully we don't screw it up) PLUS most likely a quality player or 2 through FA so by all logic we should be even better right?

but yeah, like apollo said i want to see the roster first. BC could very well strike out completely this offseason (not saying i think he will) so im going to temper my enthusiasm a bit.

It's to early to predict. Barring any major injury, we should be poised to make the playoffs next year. If we don't I think it's a huge failure on the managements side. Two high prospects coming in, lots cap room, and the young talent we have progressing over the summer there is no reason to expect less.

I don't agree with the line up you have posted. I think the pieces going ahead on this roster should be DeRozan, Bargnani, Calderon, Ed Davis, Amir, JJ, Kleiza, Gray (for the right price), Forbes (only because he has another year left) and possibly Barbosa (for the right price). The rest of the spots need to be upgraded.

Plus the pick. That is a team that can make some noise in the playoffs. This team is only getting better. Casey has them buying in and the defense, especially on the inside, is very nice. If we can improve our perimeter D and get the offense flowing smoother (Bargs will help with that) this team is going to be very very good.

"When Life gives you lemons, you clone those Lemons to make super lemons!"
-Scudworth

Too many unknowns to assume everything will turn out positively in our favour:

- Can Bargnani plan efficiently for a full 82-game season?
- Will Calderon be traded? If not, can he stay relatively healthy after playing for Spain all summer?
- Will Barbosa be traded?
- Will one of Amir/Davis be traded?
- Will Bayless' option be picked up?
- Where do we land in the draft lottery?
- Who do we pick with our selection?
- If trades are made, do we obtain any extra 2012 picks? If so, who else do we pick?
- Will Valanciunas struggle out of the gates?
- Can DeRozan maintain a level of consistency?
- Does Kleiza's knee remain trouble-free?
- Will JJ learn how to shoot?
- etc., etc.

We're far from a well-oiled machine to be making conclusions about the playoffs just yet.

Based on the expectations I see posted here daily, what Valanciunas contributes next season will be viewed as a disappointment. He's young, he's never played North American ball and he still needs to add a lot of weight. He's probably two or three seasons away(minimum one season) from producing what some people around here feel he should contribute right out of the gate. I expect "Trade JV" threads by December.

Whether it be Pau, Dirk, Marc, Andrea, you name him, they all take time to acclimate to American ball. The only exceptions seem to be when guys come over who are much older, like Jorge Garbajosa for example. He entered the league as a fundamentally sound, battle tested grown man. He hit the ground running. JV isn't that.

the line up above would be sweet! I would prefer Dragic or Sessions over Hinrich though

I really don;t expect much from JV next year. I'm predicting 8pts, 8 rbs average in 30mins., some where around there. I think it's having a healthy Bargs, signing a couple good free agents and having Ed, DeMar improving their games is what puts us over the edge. The Rookies will be better than Big Cat and Butler, that's a for sure!

Too many unknowns to assume everything will turn out positively in our favour:

- Can Bargnani plan efficiently for a full 82-game season?
- Will Calderon be traded? If not, can he stay relatively healthy after playing for Spain all summer?
- Will Barbosa be traded?
- Will one of Amir/Davis be traded?
- Will Bayless' option be picked up?
- Where do we land in the draft lottery?
- Who do we pick with our selection?
- If trades are made, do we obtain any extra 2012 picks? If so, who else do we pick?
- Will Valanciunas struggle out of the gates?
- Can DeRozan maintain a level of consistency?
- Does Kleiza's knee remain trouble-free?
- Will JJ learn how to shoot?
- etc., etc.

We're far from a well-oiled machine to be making conclusions about the playoffs just yet.

Not to mention what all the other teams in the east are going to look like next season.